What to see and shoot around San Francisco

[billy_lee]

<p>I'll spend ten days in San Francicso during Christmas time. I'd like to see and shoot some pictures around that area. Since I'll be with my family and a pregnant daughter-in-law, I'm not planning to take any hard trip. I'm not sure if we can see much in Yosemity during this time of the year. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks.</p>

[ben_goren]

<p>Billy,</p>

 

<p>Muir Woods is just the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge, and is one of my favorite places on

the planet. Bring both your widest lens and your favorite macro lens.</p>

 

<p>Cheers,</p>

 

<p>b&</p>

[Spearhead]

<p>The number one thing here to see, because there is nothing like it anywhere else, is Alcatraz. It will be a bit chilly on the boat ride out, but it's incredible. It's terrific for photographs and terrific for your family as an experience. Get your tickets in advance because it can sell out. Also, take the first boat for the best photographic experience, there aren't as many people at that time. It's a short boat ride, so your daughter-in-law should be fine.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>It is a truly photogenic city. Golden Gate, Chinatown, Nob Hill, Muir Woods, Fisherman's Wharf.....</p>

<p>A good listing is at the DK travel series (<a href="http://traveldk.com/san-francisco">link</a> ) - DK is the 21st c Baedeker or Cooks Tours*. The book version is available new or used at places like Amazon for very cheap.</p>

<p>*When I was in Berlin a few years ago, as I was waiting outside the Reichstag to get in, I saw at least four or five different language versions of their Berlin guide and no other guidebooks at all.</p>

<p>The picture below is one of the first I ever took with Fuji transparency film.</p><div></div>

[bob_flood1]

<p>If the weather is active (storm coming in from the Pacific), go down the coast to Half Moon Bay, to the beach called Mavericks. That's where the biggest surf on the west coast happens.<br>

Baker Beach has a great view of the Golden Gate with the Marin Headlands behind it. And Marin Headlands have great views of the bridge and the city - very good at twilight.<br>

I second Ben's recommendation for Muir Woods and Jeff's for Alcatraz.<br>

Yosemite is 5 hours from SFO, depending on road conditions - check the NPS website for road info. If there's snow in the valley, it will be gorgeous and difficult to get around in - CHP may require chains.<br>

Napa Valley is northeast of SFO, more picturesque than Sonoma Valley IMHO, but neither will have vineyards that will be pretty - wrong time of year. But tours of the wineries are good shooting opportunities.</p>

[User_2000406]

<p>A few ideas...</p>

<p>North across the Golden Gate bridge, then:<br>

Marin Headlands- tremendous views back towards the city.<br>

Mt. Tamalpais- go to the top or take the Panoramic Highway<br>

Muir Woods<br>

Highway One continuing northward, with beautiful coastal scenery. <br>

Keep going to Tomales Bay and Point Reyes National Seashore.</p>

<p>This could be a day trip or two full days if you really take your time to photograph.</p>

<p>Or take the ferry from Tiburon to Angel Island and hike around the island, with panoramic views of the central Bay Area.</p>

<p>Going south from San Francisco:</p>

<p>Highway One south to Santa Cruz, with more beautiful coastal scenery. Instead of Muir Woods, go to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, where the trees are just as big and there are no crowds of tourists this time of the year.</p>

<p>East of San Francisco:</p>

<p>Take the Bay Bridge, stop off at Yerba Buena Island, and take shots back towards the city. Spectacular at dusk.<br>

Grizzly Peak Blvd in the Berkeley Hills- spectacular views across the bay.<br>

The campus of the University of California at Berkeley, with wonderful old buildings among the newer ones. The craftsman-style houses in Berkeley, with wood shake siding.<br>

Drive to Livermore and take Mines Road south through remote valleys, over the top of Mt. Hamilton with its observatory, then down to Grant Ranch County Park with its rolling hills and oak trees.</p>

[billy_lee]

<p>Thanks a lot for all the above wonderfull ideas! I would look into them and make a plan. Thanks again.</p>

[Spearhead]

<p>I think some of the suggestions are very weather-dependent around Christmas time, especially with a pregnant woman. Some of the nature areas can be very wet and slippery or muddy and the beaches can be very sloggy, you should see how much information you can get before you go.</p>

[craig_gillette]

<p>You also aren't that far from the Monterey area. There's the aquarium, Point Lobos and the north end of the Big Sur area. As noted, weather may play a role in your choices. Yosemite is a drive and as it's over a school holiday period (?), can be fairly busy. But the valley is almost always accessible via Mariposa (140) even if the higher roads are temporarily snow impacted.</p>

[Spearhead]

<p>One of the advantages of Monterey is that if it is raining there are still things to do. This isn't that true of Marin where a lot of the suggestions have been. You might also consider going north of Marin to wine country. I'm partial to Sonoma, it's more relaxed and less touristy. You have a guaranteed designated driver so you can stop in at the wineries. There's a lot of photograph, I was driving in Carneros (between Napa and Sonoma at the southern end) and the migrants showed up:</p>

<p><center><img src="http://www.spirer.com/images/pajaros1.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /><br>

<em>Pajaros, Copyright 2004 Jeff Spirer</em></center></p>

<p>Maybe the point here is that there is always somewhere to photograph and somewhere to go, regardless of the weather.</p>

[SteveH]

<p>A great day trip is to go south on Hwy 1 to Pacifica and over Devils Slide for some great views of the Pacific (101/280 south, turn right on Hwy1 to Pacifica). Follow Hwy 1 to Pescadero and have lunch in Duartes (locals call it Doo-arts) or some good Pizza and sandwiches in the Pescadero Store, or a burrito in the gas station (yep, really good). Interesting shopping. Continue on to Pigeon Point Light House. If you plan ahead, you can make reservations in the Ano Nuevo State Reserve, about 5 miles south of Pigeon Point, to hike out and see elephant seals. Turn around, go have dinner in Half Moon Bay, and then drive over Hwy 92 to 280 and stagger back to SF after a very full day. All this on about 1/2 tank of gas. </p><div></div>

[tomwatt]

<p>A single shot that I strongly advise... go to the San Francisco Art Institute (Chestnut St.), go on out to the terrace past the cafe so that you're overlooking the Bay out to Alcatraz. Get a cup of coffee (mmmm. good coffee for student cafe). Then take your photos of the Bay and Alcatraz. Million dollar view there. Most people don't know it's there.</p>

[billy_lee]

<p>Thank you all, Jeff, Craig, Steve and Tom. It looks like I'll have my hands full during my stay in San Francisco.</p>

[richard_crowe4]

<p>This book is best $11.53 you will ever spend. If you have eons of time, you can dispense with this book and just hope you get to the photogenic locations at the right time of day or evening. If you are too early or too late, no problem, just come back another time.<br>

However, if your time is valuable - this is the book for you!<br>

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/PhotoSecrets-San-Francisco-Northern-California/dp/0965308715/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259450320&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/PhotoSecrets-San-Francisco-Northern-California/dp/0965308715/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259450320&sr=1-1</a></p>

[carbon_dragon]

<p>My favorite is the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. Second would be Alcatraz. Third would be the Golden Gate Bridge. Fourth would be the Streetcar museum.<br>

For souveniers it's hard to beat a bolt from the Golden gate, painted the color of the bridge or a polished old section of the streetcar cable from the streetcar museum.</p>